Lots of people have weird families, but the Tillermans in Homecoming kind of take the cake. The dysfunction goes back generations and the kids are feeling the brunt of it. While they're wandering around looking for a relative to give them a home, the kids can't help but learn an important lesson: Families can fall apart pretty easily if you don't take care of them—and sometimes keeping them together takes a lot of hard work.
Questions About Family
- Why have Dicey and her siblings been able to stay together through tough times while none of the grown-ups in the family have been able to hack it?
- How are Eunice and Abigail different in their views toward family relationships? Give examples, please.
- Why does Dicey think their grandmother can help them? Because she's family? Or is there something else about her?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Dicey learns an important lesson at Cousin Eunice's: She has to stick by her family and nurture them if she has any hope of keeping them together.
The Tillermans find out that family isn't necessarily the people related to you—it's the people who love and care for you and want you in their lives.